As the President of Norstar Development USA, L.P., Mr. Higgins is responsible for overseeing all of the Norstar Group of Companies projects and operations across the United States. Mr. Higgins brings a depth of finance, real estate, land development and construction experience to this role, with a unique combination of both public and private development expertise.
Mr. Higgins served as the New York State Housing Commissioner for 2 years from 1988-1990. During his term as Commissioner, Mr. Higgins was responsible for all of New York State’s affordable housing programs.

Prior to that, Mr. Higgins was general counsel to the Battery Park City Authority of New York and served as assistant counsel to the New York State Governor in matters of housing, economic development and finance.

Prior to joining the Norstar Group of Companies, Mr. Higgins was a partner in the law firm of Roemer and Featherstonehaugh in Albany, New York where he acted as counsel in connection with the development and financing of institutional, commercial and residential projects, specializing in state and federal housing programs, not-for-profit initiatives and community development.

Mr. Higgins is a graduate of the University of Michigan and holds a J.D. from the Columbia School of Law, where he served on the Columbia Law Review, one of the most highly recognized Law Reviews within the U.S. legal academic community. Mr. Higgins has also served on the boards of several not-for-profit housing organizations and has also served as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Law at Fordham University, New York.